Michigan State Basketball: How Tom Izzo’s team defied expectations and landed in the Sweet 16

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State’s Tom Izzo has the right to expect to be in the Sweet 16 at the beginning of each season, probably more so than anyone in the country.  This year marks the 16th time he’s done it. But even he admits to being a bit surprised.  “If you’re at Michigan State everybody expects you to be in the Sweet 16 every year, I know I do,” Izzo said on Tuesday while speaking with media. “But the realistic part, I’m not sure most of you did, and I’m not sure laying in bed at night looking at the ceiling, not sleeping, I’m not sure I thought this was totally possible when the year started. And definitely didn’t think we would win the Big Ten by three games. So some things have happened that I didn’t think would happen. But yet I should expect that we play to this level, and I do, but just expectations don’t always catch up.” No. 2 seed Michigan State (29-6) will face No. 6 seed Mississippi at 7:09 p.m. on Friday at State Farm Arena in Atlanta in the South Regional Semifinals.  During Izzo’s preseason media day press conference in October, the 30th-year head coach seemed softer about stating his expectations for the season than usual.  “The first meeting I had with everybody, I thought we could be a good team,” Izzo said. “I didn’t know how good. I didn’t know what to expect." (MORE INSIDE)